4 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



is intended to furnish cut flowers, to provide a place 

 of experiment with new varieties, and to grow hardy 

 perennials which have certain seasons of bloom and 

 cannot be depended upon, at all times, for orna- 

 mental effect. One should feel free to work there 

 unobserved of the passer-by, and this is impossible 

 in a garden close to the street. 



Again, while the permanent garden is beautiful 

 in itself, it is not suitable for the lawn and greatly 

 mars the effect of the grounds. Beds of ornamental 

 foliage plants Cannas, Ricinus, Coleus, and the like 

 appropriately placed, add much to the beauty of 

 a well-kept lawn, but should be carefully considered 

 in relation to its size and the trees and shrubbery 

 already there. 



On a small city lawn not more than one such bed 

 should be allowed. On a large lawn three will give 

 a better effect than a great number, especially if care 

 is taken to have them all visible from different points 

 on the lawn and from the house, never isolating them 

 by so placing that clumps of trees or shrubbery in- 

 tervene, but using these rather as a background for 

 the beds. 



It is from the hammock that the amateur gardener 

 will most enjoy the results of her labour. It is there 

 she will find' leisure to watch the growth of plants, 

 to compare the effect of different varieties, to note 

 where she may improve the vista by a different ar- 

 rangement next year, to observe the effects of locality, 



